Do you know Tiong Bahru estate, as well as much of the area where Singapore General Hospital are located, was once part of a sprawling Chinese cemetery?

For many Singaporeans, Tiong Bahru is a charming and hipster housing estate awash with fancy eateries and eclectic shops. The familiar Art Deco residential buildings we see today were constructed from the mid-1930s when the estate was earmarked as among the first public housing projects of the Singapore Improvement Trust (the predecessor of Housing and Development Board). These low-rise apartments were originally conceived to house residents from the overcowded Chinatown.

Take a walk around Tiong Bahru with our volunteer guides and explore its unique pre-war and post-war architecture and learn about the intriguing people and stories associated with this picturesque neighbourhood. From Seah Eu Chin to Tan Tock Seng, we will also discover the contributions of our pioneer generation to this country.

This tour also includes an exclusive visit to Singapore's first communal civilian air raid shelter in a residential estate, which saved and gave lives during World War II.

Who should come?

Everyone is welcome to participate in this exciting tour!

Duration & Meeting Place

Approximate Duration: 2 hours
Language: English
Please meet at Tiong Bahru Community Centre (in front of the General Office) 15 minutes before the start of the tour.
The tour will end at the Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter.
The tour will proceed rain or shine.

What to bring?

Wear a mask, comfortable clothes and suitable shoes.
Bring along hand sanitiser, insect repellent, EZ-Link card, a bottle of water and an umbrella.
If you have earphones with a standard 3.5mm audio jack, please bring them along (for radio guides during the tour).
Asthmatic individuals are encouraged to bring their inhaler.

Other Important Information

Please do not sign up for the tour if you are unsure of your schedule. Our volunteers have committed their time to this tour - Your absence is discouraging our volunteers from organising any physical tours.
You must cancel this ticket if you were unwell and could not turn up.
Participants who have signed up for the tour but did not turn up will be banned permanently from My Community's future tours.
Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour for registration.

Disclaimer

By agreeing to participate in the tour, every participant will be responsible for any injury, loss of damage due to careIessness of other actions on his/her part or that of children under his/her charge.
It is compulsory for a parent/guardian to accompany any child of or under the age of 12
Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.

For updates:

Follow us at @mycommunitysg on Instagram and @myqueenstown on Facebook.
Visit mycommunity.org.sg to learn more about our initiatives.

My Tiong Bahru Heritage Tour [English] (1 Jun 2025, 2.30pm)